What is Obesity? It is no longer considered a cosmetic issue that is caused by overeating and a lack of self-control... Rather, it is a chronic and progressive disease that is caused by many different factors.
Behavior
Many of the things we do, or our habits, can contribute to a positive energy balance. A positive energy balance -either caused by consuming more calories than the body needs, or by not getting enough physical activity - causes weight gain. However, other conditions affect energy balance and fat accumulation that do not involve excessive eating or sedentary behavior, such as:
- Chronic sleep loss
- Consumption of foods that, independent of caloric content, cause metabolic/hormonal changes that may increase body fat. These include foods high in sugar or high fructose corn syrup, processed grains, fat, and processed meats.
- Low intake of fat-fighting foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and quality protein
- Stress and psychological distress
- Many types of medications
- Various pollutants
- Genetics
- Studies have identified several genes associated with obesity and the ability to lose or maintain a healthy weight easily. Additionally, these genes can be inherited as a hereditary trait in some individuals. While genes cannot be changed, it is essential to acknowledge their impact, as it can encourage people to make adjustments to their environment to establish healthy habits early in life.
Hormones
Several hormones, including leptin, insulin, and ghrelin, influence our appetite, metabolism, and body fat distribution. People who are obese often have levels of these hormones that encourage abnormal metabolism and the accumulation of fat.
Environment
Environmental factors can also promote fat storage and impact weight loss efforts. In today's society, there is easy access to “super-sized” fast food, prepackaged food, and an overall abundance of high-energy/high-fat food. Individuals are often “bombarded with images and offers of high-fat, high-calorie, highly palatable, convenient, and inexpensive food ”. In addition, the physical demands of our society have changed, resulting in an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure – we move less and eat more.